In the words of Image:

With WAR HEROES, Millar and Harris have created a thematic sequel to their many works including CIVIL WAR, KICK ASS, EX MACHINA and especially THE ULTIMATES as a United States torn by terrorism gives its citizens the one thing they can use to fight back against a world gone mad – superpowers. The second printing will feature a new cover by Harris, spotlighting the super-powered nature of their soldiers of tomorrow.

Some of you may know War Hero’s as Millar’s intended follow up to The Ultimates 1 & 2, an idea which frankly sold me on the series no questions asked – and since (despite Image’s flagrant overprinting) the first issue sold out in 24 hours, plenty of others felt the same.

Mark Millar has exhibited an exceptional knack for bringing a shocking degree of modern day relevance to the men in tights epics that we all know and love. With War Hero’s, as with Kick Ass! he’s gone a step further – stripping back the spandex to expose our culture’s new found super-hero worship and analyzing likely effects in the “real world”.

War Hero’s premise – like so many of Millar’s works – is beautifully simple. What if super powers came in pill form? What if the “war on terror” were being fought by 19 year old video game nerds or washed up high-school athletes with delusions of grandeur who were granted God-like powers upon enlisting in one of the most unpopular wars in modern history?

While issue 1 gets the idea up on it’s feet while painting a grim and all to believable vision of the near future of the Middle East conflict, the moral, political and ethical dilemmas pile up in the back of your mind.

The series promised plenty of stand up and cheer moments* matched plenty of curl up and cringe moments while naive young super-soldiers storm the Middle East like a swarm of Locusts.

Like all great war epics, this one promises to fit into that moral gray area of the most dank and filthy variety. Anything less would fail as meaningful literature and live on as little more than propaganda.

I really can’t wait to see where this goes.

If you care to enlist as your patriotic duty requires, you’ll have to wait for the second printing coming soon from the good folks at Image Comics. Do it now – your country needs you!

Also watch for Mark Millar and Tony Harris on their whirlwind War Hero’s tour in the latter part of August – hopefully coming to a town near you…